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Baptist Health, Four Rivers expand clinics to serve all Paducah-McCracken County schools

Baptist Health and Four Rivers Behavioral Health are expanding walk-in clinics to serve all McCracken County and Paducah public schools every school day, beginning with the 2016-17 year.

Nurse practitioners will offer care for minor injuries and illnesses, as well as school/sports physicals and vaccinations. “Our goal is to provide convenient, accessible healthcare to meet the needs of busy families and reduce absenteeism, so students and staff don’t have to leave school,” said William A. Brown, Baptist Health West regional executive and president of Baptist Health Paducah.

The clinics serve students, staff and families of their school communities. No appointment is needed.

Baptist Health and Four Rivers started school clinics last year in three local schools – Heath, McCracken County High School and Paducah Tilghman High School. This year, the clinics are expanding to nine locations.

Quin Sutton and Donald Shively, superintendents of McCracken and Public school districts, respectively, said they appreciate the partnerships aimed at helping improve access to healthcare.

“We are excited about the expansion of the partnership with Baptist Health services in the Lone Oak and Reidland areas,” Sutton said. “The relationship we already have with Baptist Health at McCracken County High School and the Heath attendance zones has proven to be beneficial for our students, parents and staff. We are proud to offer the same benefits to our Lone Oak and Reidland communities, beginning with the 2016-17 school year.”Shively said the new agreement adds services at Paducah Middle and Clark Elementary, where clinics had not been available. In addition, Baptist Health is providing clinics at Morgan and McNabb elementary schools, where Mercy Health had clinics in previous years. “We appreciate that Baptist Health and Four Rivers have agreed to offer comprehensive services serving our entire district,” he said.The clinics accept all major health insurance plans and will bill for co-payments and self-pay patients. For security reasons, no money will be collected at the clinics.

All students under 18 must have a signed consent form on file in their school clinics. If your child requires care, the clinic will contact the individual on the consent form before providing care.Parents can sign the form at registration or download a copy at BaptistHealthPaducah.com/SchoolClinics to send to the clinic at your school.

Larger schools have full-time nurse practitioners, and some smaller schools have half-day hours. Phone the number below to confirm specific hours in your school community.